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Documentary

Japanese disaster is subject of upcoming cable documentaries

With the images of the devastation from the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that hit northeast Japan last month fresh in our minds — and with a new nuclear nightmare from destroyed reactors seemingly getting worse by the day — two cable networks are presenting documentaries in coming weeks to explore this historic catastrophe. First off is National Geographic Channel‘s Witness: Disaster in Japan, premiering tonight at 10pm ET/PT. Coming from the producers of the acclaimed special Witness Katrina, this film takes a similar, firsthand look at this current tragedy entirely through the eyes of those who experienced it. […]

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Documentary

Has “Deadliest Catch” jumped the shark?

By Tom Comi Deadliest Catch is often credited with putting the “real” in reality TV, and that couldn’t have been more true last season when viewers watched helplessly as Captain Phil Harris of the Cornelia Marie died before our very eyes. We were there when Phil — a heavy smoker — collapsed and was rushed from his boat to the hospital. We had front-row seats with Josh and Jake as they watched their father pass. And we mourned with his family, friends and fellow fishermen when they gathered in New Orleans to give him a proper send-off. It was without […]

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Documentary

Discovery announces “Deadliest Catch” fan festival

CatchCon 2011, a fan festival devoted to the hit Discovery Channel series Deadliest Catch, will drop anchor April 9 at Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle from noon-6pm. Fans will have the chance to meet the captains, tour the actual boats the brave the frigid Bering Sea, go behind the scenes into the lives of Alaska crab fishermen and catch an advanced preview of the new season of Deadliest Catch, which premieres on Discovery April 12.

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Documentary

Discovery releases U.S. promo for “Human Planet”

Discovery Channel’s upcoming series Human Planet comes from the makers of the awesome Planet Earth and Life series, and it looks like another winner. Where those other series chronicled animal life on our planet, Human Planet, as its name implies, explores how human beings have become the most adaptable species of all. Each of the series’ six hours is tied to life in a particular habitat, looking at mankind’s relationship with nature and how people have found ways to survive and thrive in the extremes of our planet. The Discovery/BBC co-production was shot in 70 locations over four years. Here […]

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Discovery gains exclusive access for Chilean mine rescue documentary

Discovery Channel has gained exclusive access to the harrowing 70-day Chilean miners ordeal, and the heart-wrenching rescue mission undertaken to save all 33 of them, for a world-premiere special with the working title of Rescued: The Chilean Mine Story. The one-hour special is produced by Discovery Channel Latin America and will simulcast October 28 on Discovery Channel and Discovery en Español in the United States, and on Discovery Channel across Latin America the same day. It will air on Discovery networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in November.   For the film, the network has shot exclusive footage […]

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Documentary

Weeklong Discovery Channel 25th anniversary celebration starts Sunday

From Discovery: During the week of June 13, Discovery will commemorate its first 25 years by hosting celebrations on air, online and in the heart of communities around the globe. On June 17, 1985, John Hendricks launched Discovery Channel to 156,000 subscribers; today, the network reaches more than 100 million subscribers in the U.S. alone and globally, Discovery Communications has more than 100 networks in over 180 countries, touching 1.5 billion subscribers. From Sunday, June 13 through Saturday, June 19 at 9PM ET/PT, Discovery Channel’s 25th Anniversary Week features a look back at the people, places and events that have […]

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Could you survive “Two Weeks in Hell?”

The U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets are America’s elite warfare specialists. Candidates come from all across America, from both the military and civilian lives. The Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) has just two weeks to twist the candidates’ minds and destroy their bodies and find the very few who have what it takes to be a Green Beret. For those who try out, it’s an avalanche of chaos, stress, and doubt. Sixty percent of the candidates will not last the two weeks of testing — and passing this test is just for the opportunity to start real Green […]

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Documentary

Anniversary of JFK assassination brings more television speculation

By Jeff Pfeiffer This Sunday, Nov. 22, will be the 46th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The exact details behind this act remain among our country’s most enduring mysteries, and have led to many theories, some reasonable, others bordering on — or crossing into — crackpot conspiracy territory. It’s likely we will never know for sure what actually took place leading up to the firing of those bullets in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza in 1963, but it will always remain good speculative fodder for TV networks and fascinated audiences. This year is no exception, as a few […]

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Family

What to watch this Halloween season

**This was our 2009 Halloween preview. To see what’s coming up for Halloween 2010, click here. Whether you’re looking for hardcore horror, family-friendly frights, or something in between, here’s a selection of some of the shows and movies to get you in a macabre mood this Halloween season. For more detail on the scary movies listed here, and to search for others throughout the month, visit our online movie database. Goosebumps — Cartoon Network, weekdays at 4:30pm ET through Oct. 29. Episodes from all three seasons of the show that adapted R.L. Stine’s spooky book series for television. The Othersiders […]